Being a Fan

You know, high school was terrible. It was full of people who hated each other, made fun of anyone for any reason, and was just generally a worthless experience outside of meeting new people.

But now the internet is the new high school.

There are now standards of being a fan depending on what a certain "class" of fan you are. Geeks of a certain class are lesser beings compared to those who engage in the "right" activities. This is high school all over again. And it's sucking the fun out of everything.

I've been playing video games and going on adventures with my heroes in books, television shows, and movies since I can remember. Whatever my political opinions or views on life, it has nothing to do with the fact that I have been a fan of what I like for near my whole life.

I spent my summer vacations as a kid going on adventures watching Labyrinth or reading The Hobbit. I rescued Princess Peach Toadstool (Yep, that's her full name) from King Bowser Koopa more times than I can count. I love adventure, and the excitement of the hero fighting the villain to a near standstill and maybe, just maybe, coming out on top. I've been a fan of what I like so long that it is pretty much a built in part of me.

I've avenged Marion's death as Billy Lee since long before message video games existed. I fought Nazis with Indiana Jones way back before the academy snubbed Fellowship of the Rings for a film nobody even remembers. I still go on paranormal adventures with Odd Thomas even when being screamed at to read about the plight of some random cause of the week that is shoehorned into the latest novel that nobody will be talking about years from now anyway.

The point is, being a fan is being a fan. You like what you like because it's part of who you are. You're not in high school anymore, you're a big boy (or girl) now, simply walk away from the know-it-all fun police who probably wouldn't know true mirth if it punched them in the face.

We have enough problems nowadays without being policed on what we enjoy as well.

But wouldn't it be great if more schools read classics like The Three Musketeers with their students instead of "classics" like The Red Pony? Maybe more people would read nowadays if they did.

Just a thought.